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Aug 26, 2019

Aug 26, 2019

I always start off with every blog post apologizing for my long absence between posts and vowing to post more regularly. It has been pretty difficult, but also, I have been feeling quite discouraged. As a micro-influencer, it's difficult to remain enthusiastic about blogging when it has become a numbers game. Less emphasis is being placed on the content, and it is more about how popular you are. I briefly considered shutting my blog down for good, but I enjoy doing it too much. This blog will always have a special place in my heart.

On to fashion! I really love how this look turned out. I was a little nervous when I added the earrings but I feel like everything came together beautifully. I wore clear mules to keep the focus on all the colors and not create too much distraction. I have done a post in the past about color blocking, which you can read here. Here are some additional tips as well:

-It is easier to color block with solid colors. As you get more comfortable, you can add different patterns. Breaking up the colors with denim is also a good way for a beginner to color block.

- Make sure your colors go well together. Brights go well with other brights. Pastels with pastels, etc.
Looking at a color wheel is a great way to see which colors complement each other. Once you have the basic color theory down, everything else is easy peasy.

image credit: www.birchbox.com

-A great way to color block without incorporating a whole outfit is to do it with accessories. I love pairing shoes and a bag in different colors and it makes the look a lot more interesting.

Jun 17, 2019

Jun 17, 2019

Two weeks ago, I went to Europe for the first time. I went to Barcelona and Faro, a city in Portugal. I had such a wonderful time. These cities had so much stunning architecture. And do not get me started on the food! The trip started with some glitches. Our flight got delayed due to weather and I ended up missing my connecting flight. The next flight wasn't for another eleven hours, so we had a pretty long layover in Lisbon as a result. So we decided to seize the day and explore Lisbon instead of being shut-in inside an airport. Lisbon is such a beautiful city. I fell in love with the colorful houses and the people are so friendly and charming. We did a "tuk tuk" tour and those narrow streets are no joke!

Because of the layover, we only spent one day in Barcelona instead of two. We ended up doing so much. To maximize for sightseeing, we opted for a bicycle tour. Then, we visited a street fair/carnival we came across. And we finished it all up by went partying at Pacha. Luckily the nightlife starts pretty late over there.

Our last destination as Faro, Portugal. We stayed in Albufeira, which is a charming beach town. The views of the beaches and coastlines were breathtaking. I fell in love with Portugal. The people are so friendly and laid back and there was some serious eye candy over there. The food was delicious! I fell in love with "Nato", which is a pastry that is a specialty over there. I am currently searching for Portuguese bakeries so that I can get my fix in NYC.

swimsuit: Missguided

Every time I visit a new destination, I always come back learning something new. Just seeing how laidback the people in Portugal are made me realize that sometimes you just have to take the time to relax and just enjoy the moment. Usually for vacations, I have a bunch of things planned and an itinerary. This time around, a lot of it was spontaneous and it was great to be impulsive. it really worked in our favor.

May 3, 2019

May 3, 2019

It took me a while to buy decent clothes for the gym. My gym uniform consisted of cheap leggings, a big tee and whatever sneakers I had laying around. A lot of it had to do with being self-conscious, and also my old gym had creepos who loved to offer unsolicited advice. Wearing baggy clothes didn't stop them, so I figured that I shouldn't have to dim my light for these guys. I should be able to feel good while I'm working out.

My favorite sneakers to wear are my Adidas Arkyn. They are comfortable for running and offer decent ankle support. I used to love wearing Nike Roshes but they lacked support in the ankle area and running would become uncomfortable for me after a while. Sneakers are one thing I'm glad to invest in because they make all the difference.

I never realized that a good legging can make a difference until I bought a pair. Adidas leggings are my absolute favorite. They are affordable (and they go on sale often) and they are always collaborating with different people for fun prints and designs. They also stay in place when working out. Forever21 makes some really good ones too, especially for their price point. My favorite styles are the high waisted ones that hold everything in.

Champion sports bras are super comfortable, and offer great support. Besides sneakers, a good sports bra is important to invest in. Target has the C9 line with Champion that offers affordable workout gear. Having great support is really important to me while I do cardio, makes running a lot more bearable.

Accessories thatI wearoften are my trusty headband and workout gloves. I finally got a pair because the weights were giving me calluses. C9 by Champion makes cute ones, also Amazon has a bunch in different price ranges.

Apr 30, 2019

Apr 30, 2019

I have struggled with body image for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was very thin, which isn't considered attractive in the Latino community. My childhood and teenage years consisted of pointed remarks about being too thin and recommendations for weight gainers.

I stayed fairly thin into my adulthood until a few years after I had Jeremy. I gained a lot of weight, about 25 pounds, in the span of a few months. While I was not overweight, I was carrying a large amount of fo body fat. Plus, I was always feeling sluggish and depressed. I started looking into solutions into losing the weight. But what would happen is, I would lose the weight and gain it right back. I would try the fad teas, the "miracle" workouts, just to gain it right back. About two years ago, I decided to take my fitness more seriously. I give my best effort towards my job, parenting and other endeavours, why should my body be any different? The most important part of a healthier lifestyle, is consistency and effort. Below are some of the most important things I learned during my fitness journey.

1. The Numbers Don't Mean S**t After A While

When I first started working out, I was HYPE when the pounds started melting off. But then, I realized that the numbers were remaining the same. And then I started gaining weight! I started getting discouraged until I saw that my clothes were fitting me and/or feeling looser. I was gaining muscle! So, I know now not to go crazy over the scale, I pay more attention to inches lost and how my clothes feel. In the photos above, there's only a 3-pound difference between them.

2. You Appreciate Your Body More

I had al these sorts of aspirations for when I began to work out. I was going to be out here with a six pack and all that. Truth is, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. And while I still don't have a six pack (yet), I celebrate the other milestones. Such as being able to do pushups or being able to run a mile without passing out. And at the end of the day, this is the body that gets me through the day. It brought life to this world. And for that, I learned to be kinder to it.

3. Exercising Keeps Depression At Bay

It takes 21 days to break a habit. After a couple of weeks of healthy eating and exercising, I noticed my energy levels went up. I didn't have to drag myself out of bed every day. Then, one day I realized, it has been months since I felt depressed. The anxiety levels were low. While I do get little bouts of depression now and then, I have something to combat it. The gym keeps me busy and provides goals for me to focus on. I also cut back on eating sugar because I noticed that it helps with depression.

top & leggings: F21

4. You Change Inside & Out

Besides making dealing with depression either, I was also making other positive changes. I felt more confident. Like I could kick some serious ass if the opportunity ever presented itself (I have weird daydreams, sue me). I felt better about the clothes I was wearing, which as a clotheshorse and blogger is very important to me. My skin was clearer and my energy levels were consistently high.

The point of this post wasn't to be all preachy. I just wanted to share how this was a real journey for me. It had ups and downs, and moments where I wanted to give up because I wasn't seeing the results. My journey hasn't ended, it continues as I become a bit better every day.

Apr 20, 2019

Apr 20, 2019

Please forgive me, I know it has been a long time since I last posted. A lot has been going on, making it quite difficult for me to create new content and post frequently. I decided to go back to school, and with that and a tricky work schedule AND being a single mom, it was quite challenging. Luckily things have become less hectic and I can devote some time for the blog.

I did have a brief depression spell that was quickly eradicated. I was surrounded by a lot of negative energy that wasn't helping me at all. Luckily, I was able to remove myself from situations that were doing nothing but harm to my mental health. I am happy to say that things are looking a lot better. Despite all the madness, I was able to make the President's List at school (yay!).

top- Boohoo

skirt-F21

shoes- Public Desire

I am excited to post more frequently. I have already started planning content and I am really excited to share with you all. Thank you for those who continue to visit Havtastic.